Adjustable forming bag for garment finishing machines



Oct. 11, 1955 N,\C, JACKSON 2,720,341*y ADJUSTABLE FORMING BG FORGARMENT FINISHING MACHINES Filed March 4, 1954 /l/a/df? C. Jac/sofi m15BY HTTONE United States Patent C ADJUSTABLE FORMING BAG FOR GARMENTFINISHING MACHINES Nolan C. Jackson, Wichita, Kans., assigner to WichitaPrecision Tool Company, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of KansasApplication March 4, 1954, Serial No. 414,154

11 Claims. (Cl. 223-67) This invention relates to improvements ingarment finishing machines and particularly to that class of equipmentadapted for use in cleaning establishments that includes a fiexiblegarment-receiving bag iniiatable with fiuid pressure, the primary objectbeing to provide novel means to selectively vary thediameter of the bag.

It is the `most important object of the present invention to provide ina garment finishing machine having an iniiatable bag as a part thereof,one or more expansible loops secured to the bag in such manner as tocontrol the diameter of the bag and therefore, the extent of ballooningthereof when fluid pressure is directed into the bag, all as determinedby the resistance of the expansible loops to the fluid pressure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide instructure as just above set forth, means for directing fluid pressureinto conduits containing the expansible loops to increase the diametersof the loops to pre-selected limits, thereby placing the entire machineunder the control of the operator. v

As will hereinafter appear, the present invention contemplates theprovision of one or more continuous pleated conduits or bellows ofrubber, plastic or the like within the forming bag of finishing machineand attached thereto in coaxial relationship with the bag. The conduits,which are therefore, of themselves inflatable, each contain anexpansible loop such as a continuous coil spring. Accordingly, when theforming and supporting bag is inflated and ballooned, the springs willtend to resist expansion and, therefore, control the diameter of the bagadjacent the conduits and their spring loops. However, it is desirableto permit operator control of the ballooning and therefore, means isprovided to direct iiuid pressure into the conduits to inflate thelatter and therebyexpand the coil springs to the desired diameter.

Such principles and important features of the present invention can bemore clearly understood from the following specification when referringto the `accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an adjustable formi ing bag for`garment finishing machines embodying the concepts of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line II-II ofFig. 1. j

i Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a modified form of the invention,showing a portion of an inflatable conduit with a pair of interconnectedsprings therein; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating anotherimodied arrangement of acontrolling spring within an expansible conduit.

The utilization of formingjbags in garment finishing machines upon whichthe garment is draped, istoday a universally accepted practice. Suchbags are placed in communication at one end thereofwith a source offiuid pressure such as air and/r steam which, when released into thebag, causes ballooning usually to the full extent of the size of thegarment placed on the bag.

i It has heretofore been recognized that such practice is ICC notentirely satisfactory since the diameter of the bag should be controlledat various points throughout the length thereof in rather accurateproportions to the Various diameters of the garment being finished. Sofar as I am aware, no means has heretofore been proposed that isentirely satisfactory because the various circumferences of the bagcannot be accurate controlled by the operator. These difficulties andothers, are overcome through use of the improvements forming the subjectmatter of this invention as clearly illustrated in the aforementioneddrawing.

The particular type of machine with which the improvements about to bedescribed are used, is of no particular consequence and, therefore,there is illustrated in Figure l, a hollow base broadly designated bythe numeral i having upstanding framework (not shown) operably carriedthereby and which terminates in a neck element 12 carrying an elongated,flexible bag 14 of any suitable permeable material such as fabric.

Manifestly, bag 14 has a neck opening 16 `receiving the element 12 andthe open, lowermost end of the bag 14 is attached to the base 10 in anysuitable manner so as to close the bag 14 and place it in directcommunication with fluid pressure emanating from the base 10. The hotair and steam sources within and/or communicating with the base 10 maytake any suitable form and have not, therefore, been illustrated in thedrawing. It is sufficient to point out that by manipulation of a footpedal 18, the bag 14 may be intiated or ballooned with the air/or steampressure. the material from which bag 14 is made, such fluid is directedoutwardly through the garment being finished and which is draped overthe bag 14.

It is now apparent that, in absence of any control whatsoever, the bag14 is free to balloon to its fullest extent when the fluid pressure isdirected thereinto, limited only by the garment that is placed thereon.In`

absence of any means to control the ballooning of bag 14, the pressureplaced on thev garment may tend to` stretch the latter and therebyincrease its size in an undesirable manner. More particularly, it ismanifest that when such pressure is placed on the garment, the dimen`sions of the latter will vary according to the weakest and strongestareas therein, resulting oftentimes in adversely effecting the relativeproportions of the entire garment.

By way of example, the garment finishing industry is constantlyconfronted with complaints from its customers because of the fact that,after the garment is finished` through use of machines having bags asillustrated at 14,

the diameter of the waist of the garment may have `in` creased,jwhereasthe diameters of the remaining portions thereof remain the same. Throughuse of the novel structure of the present invention, all of the initialrelative proportions of the garment willremain the same after finishingas they were prior to the initial cleaning operations.

Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is provided anumber of resilient loops 20 for the bag 14 spaced appropriatelythroughout the length thereof and by way of example, there is included aloop 20 at the waist, at the hips and adjacent the lowermost end of thebag 14. Suitable means is provided for mounting each of the loops 20upon the bag 14 and in the form chosen for illustration, such mounting`means includes a continuous flexible tube 22 for each loop 20respectively.

It is to be preferred that the tubes 22 and their contained loops 20, bedisposed within the bag 14 and secured directly to the latter. Tubes 22are completely closed and the fastening means illustrated consists of a`continuous line of stitching 24 circumscribing the bag 14.

The tubes 22, in addition to being fiexible, should be expansible to apredetermined diameter. A suitable Patented Oct. 11, 1955 By virtue ofthe porosity of` fabric' is suggestedtherefore', and the maximumcircumference. ofeach. tube4 22. shouldVbe as great. as.tlle4cir.`cumference of the bag 14 adjacent the corresponding tube 22. In otherwords, inasmuch as the circumferences of the bag 14` differ, the maximumcircumferencesof-'the tubes 22 will vary accordingly. The waist ofthebag 14I is ofk aA slightly less diameter than the diameter of: bag14C-adjacent its vlowerrnost end, and, therefore, the maximum diameterof the lowermost tube 22 is greaterl than the maximum diameter ofthetube 22 adjacent the waist' ofrthebag 14.

Onrthe otherhand, the normal diametersvof the loops lwithin thetubes`22, are appreciably less than'thefcor-v responding diameters of the bag14-when the Ylatter lis in` inflatable conduit 28 madefrom rubber,plastic or otherl expandable material, the-conduits 28 being'in turncontained within the tubes 22`or fastened to the bagf14 therewithin inany other `suitable manner.

Aslis best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the conduits 28-- are pleatedor in the nature-of a bellows. There is provided therefore, anoutwardly`extending Pleat-30 for each' convolution respectively of thev springloop 20 and alternate, inwardly extending pleats 32'in the conduit 28disposed between the'- convolutions of` the springY loops 20;r

The `.resiliency of the spring loops 20vor the extent to whiclrthe sameare'capable of resisting expansion, may of: course, bepre-selected. Itis suggested however, con-` sideringfthe porosity ofjtheY material fromwhich bag 14' is made and the nature of the garments vto be'processedthereon; that the force ofthe'fluid pressure directed-to the.` bag14therewithinf, be normally insufficient' to expand any of the coilsprings-201. Thus, in absenceof anyv inflation .of thefconduits ZSandtherefore,l expansion of" theasprings-ZOQ the variousdiameters of thebag14 ad= jacentthe springs 20-or more particularly, at'the lines"of`zstitching124, will'remain `fixed-as determined bythel diameters orcircumferences of the loops 20 even when the.b`ag- 14lisfullyballooned1by the force of V'iluid pres` suredirected thereinto.l

Consequently, when any of the-diameters of the bag 14 adjacent the linesof stitching 24, are'too' small to` properlyIformwthey Abag 14 in.accordance with-'the' shape,

size.-.and configuration of! the garment being-'rprocessed', thereon,itrbecomes L necessary to lexpand' the coil spring,` loopsfr20candinorder, to do-this, the conduits28t must' beeinatedand; therefore,lexpanded.

Thiszmaybe :accomplishedfby'use-of anyflui'dipressuref suel'rasairfenteringbywayof pipe 34"provided"with` a control'valve 36;y Ahose- 381 or other air passage is providedor each-conduit28respectively, andextending: downwardlytherefrom within the bag' 14 toapointv of connection with the supply pipe 34. Each hole 38 isin"turnprovided withalcontrol valve 40. The hoses38"^are coupledv directlylwith'the conduits 281 as shown'in Fig. 2 of the: drawing.'

It isimportant toN note therefore, that-,by virtuey of. a hose38fand2a-valve 40'foreach-conduitZS respectively, ther operator maycontrol the extentof expansion of` the spr-ings V20' individually,andthereby vary thegdiameter of callyexpanded vasshown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, when ever air pressure is directed into the conduits 28 toinflate the latter. As soon as the air pressure is exhausted from theconduits 28 by manipulation of valves 40, the inherent resiliency of thesprings 20 will contract the conduits 28. A similar conduitarrangementis'provided for the springs 20a-.and 20b in Fig,- 3` anddesignatedbroadly. by,Y the numeral 28a.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, there isprovided alcontinuousvcoil spring-loop20c comparable to the spring loops20, butof'appreciably'lesser diameter than inflatable bellows or conduit28a within which the sprin g y 20c is f contained.

In this modification, spring 20c is normally in an expanded condition`as shown in- Fig; 4, and when the conduit 28C is deflated, it willcontract and thereby contract the spring 20c therewithin. In otherwords, in the niodicationshown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the natureofthe'material fromy whichy theinflatable conduit-28c isf made, isA suchas to normally be contracted'and have suiiicient force tohold the spring20c in a contracted condition. When air pressure is vdirectedintotheconduit'- 28e to inflatethe same, spring 20c will be permitted toexpandl to itslnormal'maximum diameter. It is unnecessary therefore, toutilize the pleats in the conduit 28c'to` actuate the spring 20c.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the same arrangement may be utilizedto provide sleeves for the bag 14 which extend through sleeve openings44 in the bag 14.

Each of the sleeves 42 is made up of an elongated, iny

atable conduit 46 in the nature of a bellows as in the case oftheconduits 28 and'each contains an elongated coil spring 48. Springs 48are fitted within the conduits 46 in the same manner' as abovedescribedwith respect to springs 20 and their conduits 28.

Here again, there is.provided a hose or other passageway 50 within thebag 14common to the two conduits 46 and coupled with the pressure supplypipe 34. Hose 50 islkewise provided with avvalve 52 for controlling theflow-'of air pressure to and from the conduits 46. Manipulation of thevalve 52 controls the diameter and lengths ofthe sleeves 42 in the samemanner as manipu# lation ofthe valves 40? control the effectivediameters of to befinished, it is vunnecessary to increase the diametersof the conduits 28 by manipulationof Valves 40. If

however, the extent ofballooning of the bag 14 is 'to be increasedatanyfpointsf of joinder of the^conduits 28 to' the bag14ithrough'the'tubesr22, it is but necessary tol direct air pressureinto the particular conduit28that is to beinflated;

In one-.preferredembodiment of Itheinstant invention,

an ordinary blower (not shown) may be housed within" thebase 10-toprovide the source of air pressure for bag 14, and a separate source ofpressure such as an air compressor (not shown) may be provided forsupplying uid tothe lpipe 34,- so vthat the pressure furnished to hoses38 i and 50 is greater than that directed to bag 14feither as air,steam/or other fluid.

Many Adetails of construction, particularly with respect to the way inwhich the inflatable conduits are attached to the-bag and the wayin'which the conduits `areyieldably held against ination or expansion,may be varied within the spiritof this invention, and it is, therefore,desiredl to be'limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus. described the inventionwhat is claimed as new and desiredtobe securedby Letters Patentis:l

` l. In a.. garment.y finishing machine, the. combination of` a support,a flexible, inflatable `bag carried by the support,-means retaining thebagon the support upon release of iluid under pressure into the bag toballoon the same, means for controlling the extent of ballooning `of thebag, including an expansible loop, a` continuous, inflatable conduithaving means securing the same to the bag and containingtheloop forattaching theloop to thebag in substantial coaxial relationship thereto;and meansrfor directing fluid under pressure into thebag to inflate thelatter and expand the loop.

2. In `a garment finishing machine, the combination of a support, ailexible, inflatable bag carried by the support, means retaining the bagonthe support upon release of fluid under pressure into the bag to`balloon the same, means for controlling the extent, of ballooning of thebag, including an expansible loop of resilient material, a continuous,inflatable conduit containing the loop, a continuous, `expansible tubeof fabric material secured to the bag and containing the conduit forattaching the conduit and the loop to the bag in substantial coaxialrelationship thereto; and means for directing fluid under pressure intothe bag to inflate the latter and expand the loop.

3. In a garment finishing machine, the combination of a hollow base, anupstanding support mounted on the base, a flexible, inflatable bagcarried by the base, means closing the lowermost end of the bag incommunication with the base, means for controlling the diameter of thebag intermediate the ends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto underpressure from said base, including a continuous, horizontal, inflatableconduit having a normal contracted diameter less than the diameter ofthe bag when fully ballooned under force of fluid pressure within thebag, and means attaching the conduit to the bag intermediate theuppermost and lowermost ends thereof, said conduit being expansible to apredetermined diameter under force of fluid pressure in the conduit.

4. In a garment finishing machine, the combination of a hollow base, anupstanding support mounted on the base, a flexible, inflatable bagcarried by the base, means closing the lowermost end of the bag incommunication rwith the base, means for controlling the diameter of thebag intermediate the ends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto underpressure from said base, including a continuous, horizontal, flexibleconduit having a normal contracted diameter less than the diameter ofthe bag when fully ballooned under force of fluid pressure within thebag, means attaching the conduit to the bag intermediate the uppermostand lowermost ends thereof, and resilient means for yieldably holdingthe conduit contracted, said yieldable means having a predeterminedresistance to expansion under force of fluid pressure in the bag.

5. In a garment finishing machine having a hollow base, an upstandingsupport mounted on the base, a ilexible bag carried by the base, andmeans closing the lowermost end of the bag in communication with thebase, means for controlling the diameter of the bag intermediate theends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto under pressure from saidbase, including a continuous, horizontal, flexible conduit; a continuousspring in the conduit having a normal diameter less than the diameter ofthe bag when fully ballooned under force of fluid pressure within thebag; and means securing the conduit to the bag intermediate theuppermost and lowermost ends thereof, said spring having a predeterminedresistance to expansion under force of fluid pressure in the bag.

6. In a garment finishing machine having a hollow base, an upstandingsupport mounted on the base, a ilexible bag carried by the base, andmeans closing the lowermost end of the bag in communication with thebase, means for controlling the diameter of the bag intermediate theends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto under pressure from saidbase, including a continuous, horizontal,`

expansible tube; a continuous spring in the tube having a normaldiameter less than thefdianieter of the bag when fully ballooned underforce of iluid pressure within the 3 bag; means securing the tube to thebag intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof, said springhaving base, an upstanding support mounted on the base, a exible bagcarried by the base, and means closing thelowermost end of the bag incommunication with the basca means for controlling the diameter of thebag intermediate the ends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto underpressure from said base, including a continuous, horizontal, expansibletube; a continuous, inllatableconduit in the tube; a continuous springin the conduit, said spring and said conduit having normal contracteddiameters lessthan the diameter of the bag when fully ballooned underforce of iluid pressure within the bag; means securing the tube to thebag therewithin intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof,said spring having a predetermined resistance to expansion under forceof fluid pressure in the bag; and means for directing fluid underpressure into the conduit to inflate the latter and expand the spring.

8. In a garment finishing machine having a hollow base, an upstandingsupport mounted on the base, a flexible bag carried by the base, andmeans closing the lowermost end of the bag in communication with thebase, means for controlling the diameter of the bag intermediate theends thereof upon release of uid thereinto under pressure from saidbase, including a continuous, horizontal, expansible, tubular bellows; acontinuous spring in the bellows having a normal diameter lessthan thediameter of the bag when fully ballooned under force of lluid pressurewithin the bag; means securing the bellows to the bag therewithinintermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof, said springhaving a predetermined resistance to expansion under force of fluidpressure in the bag; and means for directing fluid under pressure intothe bellows to expand the spring and the bellows.

9. In a garment finishing machine having a hollow base, an upstandingsupport mounted on the base, a ilexible bag carried by the base, andmeans closing the lowermost end of the bag in communication with thebase, means for controlling the diameter of the bag intermediate theends thereof upon release of fluid thereinto under pressure from saidbase, including a continuous, horizontal, expansible, tubular bellows; acontinuous coil spring in the bellows having a normal diameter less thanthe diameter of the bag when fully ballooned under force of fluidpressure within the bag; means securing the bellows to the bagtherewithin intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof, saidspring having a predetermined resistance to expansion under force offluid pressure in the bag; and means for directing uid under pressureinto the bellows to expand the spring and the bellows.

10. In a garment finishing machine having a hollow base, an upstandingsupport mounted on the base, a flexible bag carried by the base, meansclosing the lowermost end of the bag in communication with the base, arst source of fluid under pressure and a second source of fluid underpressure, means for controlling the diameter of the bag intermediate theends thereof upon release of fluid from first source into the bag fromsaid base, including a continuous, horizontal, expansible, tubularbellows; a continuous coil spring in the bellows having a normaldiameter less than the diameter of the bag when fully ballooned underforce of fluid pressure within the bag; means securing the bellows tothe bag therewithin intermediate the uppermost and lowermost endsthereof, said spring having a predetermined resistance to expan- 11.111a garmentifnishing machine hav-ing a hollowy base, an upstanding supportmounted on the base, a exibleY bag carried by the base, and means,`closing the lowermost; end of the bag; in communication with the base,means for` controlling the, diameter of the bag' intermediatetheqendsthereof upon release of uid under pressure thereinto from said. base,including a continuous, horizonta1f expansible tube;;a continuous springin the tube having a normal diameter less than the diameter of the bagwhen fully-ballooned under force of uid pressure within the:v bag; meanssecuring the tube to the bag therewithin intermediate the. uppermost andlowermost ends thereof, said spring havingv a predetermined resistancetoexpansion under force of fluid pressure in the bag; means for directinguid under pressure intol the tube, to. expand.

the spring and the tube, said bag havingv a .pair of opposed `openingsatA said uppermost end thereof; yan expansible, closed, tubular bellowsin each opening respectively; a coil springvin each bellowsrespectively; vand means: for directing, fluid under pressure intoy thebellows to: expand the same.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,543Schrader Feb` 12, 17900- 2,3'19,434 Pungar May 18, 1943 2,410,485 Du NahNov. 5, 1-946 FOREIGN PATENTS v 356,210 France Nov; 23, 190

